A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named `Delistar`, characterized by its quilled spider-type double inflorescences that are about 8 to 11 cm in diameter with white ray florets; inflorescences that consist mostly of ray florets and few disc florets which are typically inconspicuous; dark green foliage; strong flower stems; low number of lateral branches, advantageous for disbudding; early response time, plants flower after about seven weeks of photoinductive treatments; not attractive to leafminers; excellent postproduction longevity; suitability for coloring (dying); and tolerance to low light conditions.

Claim:

It is claimed:

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named `Delistar`, as illustrated and described.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora and referred to by the cultivar name Delister.

The new Chrysanthemum is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in 's-Granvenzande, The Netherlands. The objective of breeding program was to create new cut Chrysanthemum cultivars having double spider-typeinflorescences with white ray florets, unattractive to leafminers (Lyriomyza trifolii) and with good inflorescence form and substance.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross made by the Inventor in the Autumn of 1996, in 's-Gravenzande, The Netherlands, of the Dendranthema grandiflora cultivar Spider White, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryChrysanthemum selection identified as code number 94816, as the male, or pollen, parent. Seed from the cross was sown on Jan. 28, 1998, and the cultivar Delistar was discovered and selected by the Inventor within the progeny of the stated cross in acontrolled environment in 's-Gravenzande, The Netherlands, on or about May 27, 1998.

The selection of this plant was based on its inflorescence form, color and good substance.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings harvested in 's-Gravenzande, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Delistar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of `Delistar`. These characteristics in combination distinguish `Delistar` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Quilled spider-type double inflorescences that are about 8 to 11 cm in diameter with white ray florets.

2. Inflorescences consist mostly of ray florets and few disc florets which are typically inconspicuous.

3. Dark green foliage.

4. Strong flower stems.

5. Low number of lateral branches, advantageous for disbudding.

6. Early response time; plants flower after about seven weeks of photoinductive treatments.

7. Unattractive to leafminers.

8. Excellent postprodction longevity and tolerates transport well.

9. Suitable for coloring (dying).

10. Tolerant to low light conditions; can be grown without the benefit of supplemental lighting.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parent, the cultivar Spider White, in the following characteristics:

1. Leaves of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are darker green, broader at the base and have shorter petioles than leaves of plants of the cultivar Spider White.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower at least seven days earlier than plants of the cultivar Spider White.

3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower have fewer inflorescences per stem and therefore more suitable for growing as a disbud than plants of the cultivar Spider White.

4. Ray floret corolla tubes of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are more than ray floret corolla tubes of plants of the cultivar Spider White.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parent, the selection 94816, in the following characteristics:

1. Leaves of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are not as erect as leaves of plants of the selection 94816.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are less freely branching than plants of the selection 94816.

3. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are tubular whereas ray florets of plants of the selection 94816 are flat.

4. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum develop few noticeable disc florets whereas inflorescences of plants of the selection 94816 develop numerous disc florets.

5. Anthers of plants of the new Chrysanthemum produce much less pollen than anthers of plants of the selection 94816.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photograph comprises a view of a typicalinflorescence of `Delistar`. Floret and foliage colors in the photograph may differ from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary signficance are used. The folowing observations and measurements describe plants grown in's-Gravenzane, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given short nyctoperiods followed by long nyctoperiods to induce flower initiation and development. Average day and night temperatures were18 and 19.degree. C., respectively.

Flowering response.--Under natural conditions, plant typically flowers in November in the Northern Hemisphere. At other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at least13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed to long day/short night conditions after planting following by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about seven weeks later.

Postproduction longevity.--Inflorescences will maintain good substance and form for about 3.5 weeks after harvesting.